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Charges Filed Against Man Accused Of Trying To Blow Up Bookstore

DENVER (CBS4) - Federal charges are now filed against the man accused of planting explosive devices inside a Borders bookstore.

Court documents obtained by CBS4 Friday morning reveal a confession from the man accused in the crime, which happened on June last weekend at the Colorado Mills Mall in Lakewood.

David Lawless now faces a charge of attempting to destroy property with an explosive and two counts of a possession of a homemade bomb or improvised explosive device.

Lawless allegedly broke into the Borders on June 25 and dropped two homemade bombs in the store. A third was later found in a garbage can outside the mall. He apparently tried to detonate the explosives.

According to a federal affidavit, Lawless used propane tanks as part of the bombs. He told authorities he had learned how to make the devices from a website.

The incident sparked a statewide manhunt for Lawless. He was subsequently arrested in Clear Creek County later that evening.

He's currently being held in Georgetown for trying to attack two off-duty sheriff's deputies. Those deputies found his car crashed off the side of a road. Lawless was reportedly drunk and tried to stab the deputies with a pair of scissors.

Lawless is also being connected to a fire and explosion at the Marriott Hotel in Golden. A fire there caused the building to be evacuated.

A search into his criminal history also revealed a felony charge of possessing explosives and illegal weapons in 2005.

There is no word yet on when he will be extradited to a federal holding facility in Denver or when his first court appearance will be.

If convicted Lawless could spend more than 50 years in prison and have to pay a $500,000 fine.

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